Information recording/reproducing apparatus, and information recording medium

ABSTRACT

In an information recording, a first data processor divides input data into a plurality of frames so as to arrange the plurality of frames for each unit block. The unit block is a unit of error-correction with respect to the input data and the frames include first identification information, respectively. A second data processor inserts a linking block on a boundary portion between unit blocks in the record data. The unit blocks are adjacent to each other. The linking block includes a second identification information and the second identification information is different from each of the first identification information. A controller controls to record the unit block and the linking block on the information recording medium.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus and an information recording method eachof which is capable of inserting a linking block on an informationrecording medium which allows information to be recorded thereon or tobe reproduced therefrom, an information recording medium on which thelinking block is inserted and an information reproducing apparatus forreproducing information recorded on an information recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Large-capacity information recording mediums, such as DVDs(Digital Versatile Disc) which are typical of them, have been widelyspread. In recently, the desire with respect to an information recordingmedium which allows data to be recorded thereon grows. For example,standards of disks including a DVD-R (DVD-Recordable) which allows datato be recorded thereon only once, a DVD-RW (DVD-Re-Recordable) whichallows data to be repeatedly recorded thereon and so on are known. Incases of recording data on such as recordable or re-recordable disk,when recording additional data on an area which is continued on a formerarea on which another data is already recorded, a linking block must beformed on the boundary portion between both of data.

[0003] That is, when starting to record new additional data on an areadirectly adjacent to the former area on which data is already recorded,a difference between both of the timings of reproducing both of theadjacent areas causes a data error.

[0004] Recording, therefore, new additional data on another area awayfrom the former area on which the data is already recorded at apredetermined interval makes secure accurate reproduction of therecorded data.

[0005] In a DVD format, error-correction operations are carried out foreach ECC (Error Control Code) block. After new additional data isrecorded on the DVD, the last ECC block included in the already recordeddata and the first ECC block included in the new additional data areadjacent to each other. Usually, a predetermined range in the first ECCblock, which is adjacent to the head thereof, is set as the linkingblock.

[0006] Setting the linking block, however, in the described mannercauses a problem in that a size of the ECC block, which can be utilizedfor error-correction, to be reduced, thereby deterioratingerror-correction performance.

[0007] In order to prevent the error-correction performance from beingdeteriorated, it is possible not to write data on the head one of theECC blocks in the additional data, data which must be originally writtenthereon. Because the ECC block, however, has a remarkably large datasize (16 sectors in length, that is, 38688 bytes in length), in caseswhere the head one of the ECC blocks is not utilized each time theadditional data is recorded, making increase useless areas in therecording zone on the disk, thereby causing a data capacity of the diskwhich allows recording of data thereon to be decreased.

[0008] From this viewpoint, it is considered that the linking block isarranged independent of the ECC block, whereas, when forming the linkingblock on a recordable/re-recordable information recording medium, suchas a DVD-R, DVD-RW or the like, which allows data to be recorded, sothat the linking block is independent of the ECC block, it is notsecured that the compatibility of the recordable/re-recordableinformation recording medium with a reproduction-only informationrecording medium such as DVD-ROM (DVD-Read Only Memory).

[0009] It is, therefore, desirable to determine the format of linkingblock which is commonly arranged on both of the recordable/re-recordableinformation recording medium and the reproduction-only informationrecording medium, thereby making common the definition of the format oflinking block as a recording format.

[0010] The linking block, however, in the reproduction-only informationrecording medium, which is not originally required therein, causes therecording capacity of the reproduction-only information recording mediumto be wasted.

[0011] In cases where the recording format is common between therecordable/re-recordable information recording medium and thereproduction-only information recording medium so that arbitraryinformation is recorded on the linking block in the reproduction-onlyinformation recording medium, it is impossible to prevent the wholeinformation recorded on the reproduction-only information recordingmedium from being illegally copied, thereby recording the illegallycopied information on the recordable/re-recordable information recordingmedium.

[0012] The present invention is directed to overcome the foregoingproblems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an information recording/reproducing apparatus, an informationrecording medium, an information reproducing medium and so on, which arecapable of preventing, when forming the linking block on an informationrecordable/re-recordable recording medium or a reproduction-onlyinformation recording medium, error-correction performance from beingdeteriorated, thereby improving their reliabilities.

[0013] In addition, it is another object of the present invention tocause the waste in a recording area of an information recording mediumto be decreased, thereby making efficiently use of the recordingcapacity in the information recording medium. Furthermore, it is furtherobject of the present invention to efficiently prevent an illegal copyfrom the information recording medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an information recording apparatus for recording informationcomprising: a first data processor for dividing input data into aplurality of frames so as to arrange the plurality of frames for eachunit block, the unit block being a unit of error-correction with respectto the input data, the frames including first identificationinformation, respectively; a second data processor for inserting alinking block on a boundary portion between at least one pair of unitblocks, at least one pair of the units blocks being adjacent to eachother, the linking block including second identification information,the second identification information being different from each of thefirst identification information; and a controller for controlling torecord the unit block and the linking block on the information recordingmedium.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of recording record data on an information recordingapparatus comprising: dividing input data into a plurality of frames soas to arrange the plurality of frames for each unit block, the unitblock being a unit of error-correction with respect to the input data,the frames including first identification information, respectively;inserting a linking block on a boundary portion between at least onepair of unit blocks, at least one pair of the units blocks beingadjacent to each other, the linking block including secondidentification information, the second identification information beingdifferent from each of the first identification information; andcontrolling to record the unit block and the linking block on theinformation recording medium.

[0016] According to further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an information recording medium on which record data ispreviously recorded, comprising: a recording area on which a pluralityof frames are arranged for each unit block, the record data beingdivided into the plurality of frames to which first identificationinformation is added, respectively, the unit block being a unit oferror-correction with respect to the record data; and a linking blockinserted on a boundary portion between at least one pair of unit blocksin the record data, at least one pair of the units blocks being adjacentto each other, the linking block including second identificationinformation, the second identification information being different fromeach of the first identification information.

[0017] According to still further aspect of the present invention, thereis provided an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorddata which is recorded on the information recording medium according toclaim 17, comprising: a fourth data processor for reproducing, asreproduction data, the record data recorded on the image recordingmedium; and a fifth data processor for detecting the secondidentification information from the reproduction data, therebyidentifying a position of the linking block.

[0018] According to still further aspect of the present invention, thereis provided an information recording medium for recording thereon recorddata, in which the record data comprises a plurality of unit blocks anda plurality of linking information, the unit block being a unit oferror-correction with respect to the record data, each of the linkinginformation connecting each pair of unit blocks adjacent to each other,the information recording medium comprising: first areas previouslystoring thereon recording position information representing recordingpositions on the information recording medium, respectively; and secondareas each of which is N times as wide as each of the first recordingareas, the N being a natural number, wherein each of the recordingposition information represents that each of the unit blocks and each ofthe linking information corresponding thereto ought to be recorded oneach of the second areas.

[0019] According to still further aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a method of preventing an illegal copy in accordance with arecording format for recording record data for each unit block, the unitblock being a unit of error-collection with respect to the record data,the method of comprising: forming a linking block on a boundary portionbetween at least one pair of the unit blocks according to the recordingformat, at least one pair of the units blocks being adjacent to eachother; arranging an emboss area on a recording track on an informationrecording medium, the emboss area being composed of an emboss pit line,the emboss area being overlapped on the emboss area, thereby preventingrecording in the emboss area; and recording control information on thelinking block on a reproduction-only information recording medium, thereproduction-only information recording medium corresponding to therecording format, the control information being required forreproduction operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other objects and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of an embodiment with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of aninformation recording/reproducing apparatus related to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a view showing an ECC block configured by an ECC blockconfiguration unit in DVD data format, shown in FIG. 1 according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 3 is a view showing a configuration of each of sectors shownin FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 4 is a view showing a state that a linking block is insertedon a boundary portion between already recorded data and additional dataon a disk according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 5 is a view representing a data portion including the linkingblock shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with a data arrangement on the diskaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 6 is a view showing a frame format of a relationship betweena structure of a recording track on an unrecorded disk and that of arecord data according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 7 is a view showing waveform patterns of signals outputtedfrom units of the information recording/reproducing apparatus in a casewhere a linking block of the disk is reproduced thereby according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 8 is a view representing a data portion including the linkingblock in accordance with a data arrangement which is the same as that inFIG. 5 on a DVD-ROM as a disk according to a modification of the firstembodiment;

[0029]FIG. 9 is a view showing a state that a linking block is insertedon a boundary portion between an already recorded data and additionaldata on a DVD-RW/DVD-R as a disk according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0030]FIG. 10 is a view representing a data configuration of the linkingblock applied to the DVD-RW/DVD-R as the disk according to the secondembodiment;

[0031]FIG. 11 is a view showing waveform patterns of signals outputtedfrom units of an information recording/reproducing apparatus in a casewhere a linking block of a disk, such as DVD-RW/DVD-R is reproducedthereby according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 12 is a view showing a state that a linking block is insertedon a boundary portion between an already recorded data and additionaldata on a DVD-ROM as a disk according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0033]FIG. 13 is a view representing a concrete structure of the linkingblock applied to the DVD-ROM shown in FIG. 12 according to the secondembodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 14A is a view showing an example of format of control datarecorded on the linking block on the DVD-ROM according to the secondembodiment of the present invention; and

[0035]FIG. 14B is a view showing another example of format of controldata recorded on the linking block on the DVD-ROM according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of aninformation recording/reproducing apparatus 1 related to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Incidentally, in the first embodiment, the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1, which is capable of performingrecording/reproducing operations with using an information recordingmedium on which digital data can be recorded according to a DVD format,and to which the present invention is applied, is explained hereinafter.

[0039] According to the first embodiment, when recording data on a diskas the information recording medium, such as a DVD-RW, DVD-R or thelike, the linking block is formed so that, when recording additionaldata continuously to the already recorded data, the additional data isrecorded so that a linking block is interposed on the boundary portionbetween the already recorded data and the additional data.

[0040] The configuration of the linking block formed on the disk isdifferent from that of the conventional linking block.

[0041] That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1 comprises an optical pickup 3 having alight source such as a semiconductor laser for recording data on a disk2, such as the DVD-RW, DVD-R or the like, and for reproducing itthereon.

[0042] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 also comprisesan ECC block configuration unit 5 for converting an analog signalcorresponding to information to be recorded, which is inputted from anoutside (for example, information, such as image information, soundinformation, image-analog mixed information or the like, which isinputted by a user using the information recording/reproducing apparatus1, referred to as “user information”, hereinafter) into digital userdata.

[0043] The ECC block configuration unit 5 is also operative to execute acoding operation including an error-correction processing on the basisof the digital user data so as to configure ECC blocks.

[0044] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 comprises alinking block inserting unit 6 for inserting a liking block on thedigital user data (record data) which is configured as the ECC blocks bythe ECC block configuration unit 5, and a data recording unit 7 forrecording through the optical pickup 3 the record data on which thelinking block is inserted on the disk 2 as pits corresponding to theinformation to be recorded.

[0045] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 comprises awobble detecting unit 22 for detecting, when recording the record datacorresponding to the information to be recorded on the optical disk 2 onwhich no data is recorded, an wobbling detection signal corresponding towobbling of a recording track of the unrecorded optical disk 2 accordingto reflected beam from the recording track thereof. The wobble detectingunit 22 also is operative to output the wobbling detection signal to aCPU 20 and a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) unit 23, respectively.Incidentally, the PLL unit is referred to as simply PLL.

[0046] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 comprises thePLL 23 for generating a record clock signal according to the wobblingdetection signal, record clock signal that is a reference signal bywhich the data recording unit 7, the linking block inserting unit 6 andthe ECC block configuration unit 5 are operated. The PLL 23 is alsoadapted to supply the record clock signal to the data recording unit 7,the linking block inserting unit 6 and the ECC block configuration unit5, respectively.

[0047] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 comprises theCPU 20 for detecting address information stored on the unrecordedoptical disk 2 according to the wobbling detection signal in the mannerdescribed hereinafter, thereby outputting the address information to thedata recording unit 7.

[0048] That is, the disk 2 is rotated with a rotating drive unit (notshown).

[0049] The optical pickup 3 receives the record data transmitted fromthe data recording unit 7 and drive the light source on the basis of thecontrol of the data recording unit 7 so as to generate optical beam suchas laser beam, thereby irradiating the generated optical beam on aninformation recording surface of the disk 2. The irradiated optical beamforms the pits corresponding to the record data so as to record therecord data on the disk 2.

[0050] At that time, when starting to record the record data, theoptical pickup 3 receives the reflected beam from the optical disk 2 soas to detect a period of the wobbling, thereby outputting the wobblingdetection signal corresponding to the period of the wobbling to the PLL23 and the CPU 20.

[0051] The CPU 20 detects the address information on the recording trackaccording to the wobbling detection signal so as to output the addressinformation to the data recording unit 7. The address information causesthe data recording unit 7 to recognize a record position of the opticaldisk 2, on which the record data should be recorded, according to theoutputted address information, thereby recording the record data on therecord position thereof.

[0052] Furthermore, the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1comprises a reproduction signal production unit 11 for receiving anoptical signal corresponding to reflected beam from the disk 2 so as toproduce a reproduction signal corresponding to the reflected beam, abinary slicing unit 12 for binarizing the reproduction signal into abinary signal and a sync detecting unit 13 for detecting a sync patternaccording to the binary signal.

[0053] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 comprises a PLL14 for supplying a clock signal to the sync detecting unit 13 and otherunits in the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, clock signalthat is a reference signal by which the sync detecting unit 13 and otherunits are operated.

[0054] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 comprises ahold signal generating unit 15 operative to generate a hold signal forcontrolling the operations of the PLL 14 and a data reading unit 16 forreading reproduction data from the generated sync pattern by the syncdetecting unit 13 so as to output the read reproduction data.

[0055] Furthermore, the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1comprises a CPU 20 connected with the optical pickup 3, the ECC blockconfiguration unit 5, the linking block inserting unit 6 and the datarecording unit 7 so as to permit data communication thereamong.

[0056] The CPU 20 supervisorily controls the above whole informationrecording operations executed through the optical pickup 3, the ECCblock configuration unit 5, the linking block inserting unit 6 and thedata recording unit 7.

[0057] Furthermore, the CPU 20 is also connected with the reproductionsignal producing unit 11, the binary slicing unit 12, the sync detectingunit 13, the PLL 14, the hold signal generating unit 15 and the datareading unit 16 so as to permit data communication thereamong.

[0058] The CPU 20 supervisorily controls the above whole informationreproducing operations executed through the reproduction signalproducing unit 11, the binary slicing unit 12, the sync detecting unit13, the PLL 14, the hold signal generating unit 15 and the data readingunit 16.

[0059] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 also comprisesa memory 21 to which the CPU 20 can freely access so that the CPU 20 canfreely read/write data required for its operations from/on the memory21. On the memory 21, a program causing the CPU 20 to execute theinformation recording/reproducing processing function is stored.

[0060] Next, linking block inserting operations by the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment andthe data configuration including the linking block inserted on the basisof the linking block inserting operations are explained hereinafter.

[0061] That is, the user data digitized by the A/D converter in theinformation recording/reproducing apparatus 1 is inputted in the ECCblock configuration unit 5. The ECC block configuration unit 5 subjectsthe same scramble to the user data so as to add parity bits to thescrambled user data, thereby configuring the ECC block.

[0062]FIG. 2 shows the ECC block configured by the ECC blockconfiguration unit 5 in DVD data format, shown in FIG. 1.

[0063] The ECC block is served as a unit block by which theerror-correction processing is applied to the inputted user data.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 2, the 16 sector data (sector 0˜sector 15) thatare continuously arranged on the disk correspond to one ECC block. Eachsector included in the ECC block in FIG. 2 is configured to have amatrix shape of 182 bytes×13 lines so that the ECC block is configuredto have a matrix shape of 182 bytes×208 lines.

[0065]FIG. 3 shows a configuration of each of the sectors. As shown inFIG. 3, 13 lines consisting of one sector is divided into two groups ofdata so that 32 bit sync code (SY0˜SY7), as an item of identificationinformation, is added to each group of each data consisting of 91 bytes(1456 bits). The data portion partitioned by each of the added sync codeof each data is configured as the sync frame. Each of the sync code isserved as an identification code for identifying the corresponding syncframe when reproducing the ECC block.

[0066] In FIG. 3, each line consists of two sync frames so that eachsector includes 26 sync frames SF1˜SF26 in all. Each block, therefore,has a data configuration (data format) divided into 16×26 sync frames inall so as to be arranged into a block.

[0067] In the sync code, a pulse having a channel bit width of 14T, theT representing a bit clock period per channel, is sank so that the synccode pattern is longer than the pattern of the longest channel bit width11T, which appears at the data portion, making it possible todistinguish the sync code from the data portion to identify it.

[0068] Trains of 9 channel bits at the heads of the sync codes havedifferent bit patterns, respectively, so that eight kinds of sync codesSY0˜SY7 are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the arrangement of the synccodes SY0˜SY7 permits the data position in the sector to be identified.

[0069] The user data inputted in the ECC block unit 5 is configured asthe record data consisting of the ECC blocks so that the record data istransmitted to the linking block inserting unit 6.

[0070] The linking block inserting unit 6 receives the transmittedrecord data so as to insert a linking block in each of the boundaryportions between each pair of adjacent ECC blocks.

[0071]FIG. 4 is a view showing a state that the linking block isinserted on the boundary portion between the already recorded data andadditional data on the disk 2.

[0072] That is, the linking block inserting unit 6, as shown in theoblique lines (hatchings), inserts a linking block LB in a region of twosync frames (first sync frame SYF1 and a second sync frame SYF2) betweenthe ECC block at the last of the already recorded data and that at thehead of new additional data. Both of the ECC blocks just before andafter the linking block have the same configuration of the ECC blockshown in FIG. 3, but at least one of code patterns of sync codes SYX,SYY of the two sync frames in the linking block is different from thoseof usual sync codes SX0˜SX7 so as to be set as special sync codepattern.

[0073] That is, the linking block inserting unit 6 adds a sync code SYXdifferent from the usual sync codes SX0˜SX7 to the first sync frame SYF1in the inserted linking block LB, and adds a sync code SYY differentfrom the usual sync codes SX0˜SX7 to the second sync frame SYFs in theinserted linking block LB.

[0074] At least one of codes patterns of the added sync codes SYX, SYYis different from the code patterns of the usual sync codes SX0˜SX7 sothat referring at least one of the sync codes SYX, SYY permits thelinking block LB to be distinguished from the actual data portion. Oneach data portion of each of the sync frames SYF1 and SYF2 included inthe linking block LB, dummy data, as shown in FIG. 4, is recorded inplace of the actual data, or no data is recorded.

[0075] In this embodiment, the linking block inserting unit 6 insertsthe linking block LB on each of the boundary portions between each pairof adjacent ECC blocks on the disk 2. In this configuration, the linkingblock LB is always inserted between each of the already recorded dataand each new additional data when recording each new additional data onthe disk 2, and the linking block LB is within three sync frames insize, for example, a little two sync frames in size, as compared withthe ECC block including 16×26 sync frames, making it possible to preventa waste of the recording capacity of the disk 2, thereby making useefficiently of the recording capacity thereof.

[0076] The present invention, however, is not limited to the structureof inserting the linking block LB in all boundary portions. That is, thelinking block inserting unit 6 may select at least one of the boundaryportions between all adjacent ECC blocks so as to insert the at leastone of the selected boundary portion.

[0077]FIG. 5 is a view representing the data portion including thelinking block LB shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with a data arrangementon the disk 2. In FIG. 5, the data A is taken as the already recordeddata, and the ECC block (n−1) is taken as the last one of the ECC blocksof the data A. The data B following after the data A is taken as theadditional data, and the ECC block (n) is taken as the head one of theECC blocks of the data B. As shown in FIG. 5, the linking block LBconsisting of the two sync frames is inserted on the boundary portionbetween the ECC block (n−1) and the ECC block (n).

[0078] The data recording unit 7, therefore, stops the recordingproceeding of the data A at the ECC block (n−1) at the last end thereinso as to shift to the linking block LB, thereby starting to record thedata B from its ECC block (n) at the head end therein. On the connectionportion between the data A and the data B, the linking block LB isinserted in a state that continuity from the data A to the data B isinterrupted once.

[0079] When reproducing the disk on which the data is arranged as shownin FIG. 5, the reproducing operation with respect to the data A isperformed so as to be reached to the ECC block (n−1), and, after thereproducing of the data A is completed, the sync code SYX in the linkingblock LB is detected. The code pattern of sync code SYX is differentfrom that of each of the sync codes SY0˜SY7 so that it is possible toeasily distinguish the position of the linking block LB. A concreteconfiguration of detecting the sync code SYX when reproducing the datais described hereinafter. Incidentally, the sync code SYY may bedetected in order to distinct the linking block LB, but, in thisembodiment, the sync code SYX is detected so as to distinct the linkingblock LB.

[0080] Next, the recording track on the disk 2 according to the firstembodiment is described hereinafter, referring to FIG. 6.

[0081]FIG. 6 is a view showing a frame format of a relationship betweena structure of the recording track on the unrecorded disk 2 and that ofthe record data described above. The structure of the recording track isshown with its enlarged scale.

[0082] A top of FIG. 6 shows items of the address information, each ofwhich uniquely identifies a location in the record data. The items ofthe address information are previously stored on the recording track TRon the disk 2. The recording track TR is divided into address units AUin its longitudinal direction, that is, a circumferential direction ofthe disk 2, each of which corresponds to each of the items of theaddress information.

[0083] That is, for example, the record data which should be recorded onthe location of address n is recorded on the address unit AUcorresponding to the item of address information having the value ofaddress n. The item of address information corresponding to each addressunit AU is stored in such a manner that, while the recording track TR ineach address unit AU is wobbled, the period of the wobbling isphase-modulated by the item of address information corresponding to eachaddress unit AU.

[0084] On the disk 2 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, eachitem of address unit AU is formed so that the boundary portion betweenone address unit AU on which the last data of one of the ECC blocks isrecorded and another one address unit AU on which the first data ofanother one of the ECC blocks following from the one of the ECC blocksis recorded coincides with the boundary portion between the sync framescorresponding to the linking block after each of the ECC blocks isrecorded.

[0085] That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the sync code SYX follows fromthe last data of the ECC block (n−1), the location on which the data atan after end of the sync frame SYF1 in the linking block LB includingthe sync code SYX is recorded, after end which is opposite to the synccode SYX side end, coincides with an after end of the last one in theaddress units AU which correspond to the ECC block (n−1). In addition,as shown in FIG. 6, when the sync code SYY is ahead of the first data ofthe ECC block (n), the location on which the data at a before end of thesync code SYY is recorded, before end which is adjacent to the after endof the sync frame SYF1, coincides with a before end of the first one inthe address units AU which correspond to the ECC block (n).

[0086] Incidentally, FIG. 6 shows that an area on the disk 2, on whichthe record data including one ECC block and the data corresponding toone sync frame of the lining block LB in either side of the one ECCblock is recorded, corresponds to four address units AU. For example, anarea ARE on the disk 2, on which the record data including the ECC block(n−1) and the data corresponding to one sync frame of the linking blockLB in either side of the ECC block (n−1) ought to be recorded,corresponds to four times as wide as each address unit. That is, thearea ARE corresponds to four address units AU (n+1)˜AU (n+4).

[0087] That is, each ECC block and each linking block correspondingthereto are recorded on each area ARE which is zoned so as to correspondto zonings of the address units AU so that it is possible to accuratelydistinct the position of the linking block by referring the addressunits AU.

[0088] As described above, the information recording/reproducingapparatus 1 according to the first embodiment comprises the ECC blockconfiguration unit 5, as record data configuration means, forconfiguring the data having the data configuration described above withrespect to the information recording medium, such as a DVD-RW, DVD-R orthe like, and the linking block inserting unit 6, as linking blockinserting means, for inserting the linking block having the describedfeature in the record data.

[0089] In addition, the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1according to the first embodiment comprises the data recording unit 7,as data recording means, for controlling, as described above, the recordof additional data with respect to the information recording medium,such as a DVD-RW, DVD-R or the like.

[0090] Next, linking block detecting operations by the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment whenreproducing the disk 2 are explained while referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.7.

[0091]FIG. 7 is a view showing waveform patterns of signals outputtedfrom the units 11, 13, 14 and 15 of the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1 in a case where the linking block ofthe disk is reproduced thereby.

[0092] That is, the light beam is irradiated from the optical pickup 3with respect to a target recording track on the disk 2 which isrotatably driven. A reflection light from the target recording track onthe disk 2 is detected by a detector in the optical pickup 3. Thedetected signal from the optical pickup 3 is inputted into thereproduction signal producing unit 11 so that a reproduction signalwhose levels are changed according to the pit on the target track andthe land thereon, land at which the pit is not formed. For example, incases where the detector of the optical pickup 3 has four divideddetecting areas, the reproduction signal producing unit 11 adds thedetected signals by the four divided detecting areas in the detector soas to produce the reproduction signal.

[0093] Then, in top of FIG. 7, the waveform pattern of the reproductionsignal is shown when the data portion including the linking block LB ofthe disk 2 as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 clearly represents that thereproduction signal has stable levels when the data A before thereproduction of the linking block LB is reproduced and the data B afterthe reproduction of the linking block LB is reproduced. On the contrary,FIG. 7 clearly represents that the distortion of the level in thereproduction signal occurs when the linking block LB is reproduced. Whenrecording additional data (data B), missing the synchronization betweenthe data before and after the boundary portion of the additional dataand the already recorded data because of the data between the databefore and after the boundary portion being indefinite causes the abovedistortion of the level in the reproduction signal. The configuration ofthe information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 according to thisembodiment permits the data before and after the boundary portion to besynchronized with each other.

[0094] Next, the binary slicing unit 12 slices the reproduction signalby a predetermined level so as to binarize it, thereby producing abinary signal corresponding to the data pattern of the record data onthe disk 2. The sync detecting unit 13 detects distinguishably the usualsync patterns SY0˜SY7 or the sync patterns SYX and the SYY included inthe linking block LB on the basis of the binary signal from the binaryslicing unit 12. The sync detecting unit 13 outputs a SYX detectingsignal for distinguishing timing at which the sync pattern SYX in thelinking block LB is detected.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 7, the SYX detecting signal is a pulse signalwhich is turned into a high level from the detection timing t0 of thesync pattern SYX in the data pattern included in the binary signal so asto keep the high level state in a short time.

[0096] The PLL 14 inputs the binary signal therein and is served asclock sampling means for sampling a clock signal synchronized with thereproduction signal. The PLL 14 contains an oscillating circuit whoseoscillating frequency and phase are controlled by a PLL error signalwhose levels are changed in conjunction with the binary signal. The PLL14 becomes a lock state until a predetermined capturing time elapsesfrom the start of the operation of the PLL 14, and after the capturingtime elapses, the PLL 14 outputs stable clock signals. The clock signalsoutputted from the PLL 14 are supplied to each unit of the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1 and the sync detecting unit 13 so asto be used as reference signals of the synchronization when detectingthe sync code SYX.

[0097] The hold signal generating unit 15 generates a hold signal on thebasis of the SYX detecting signal outputted from the sync detecting unit13 so as to supply the hold signal to the PLL 14. The hold signal is asignal which is adapted to control a state of the PLL error signal, andto distinguish a predetermined time for which the level of the PLL errorsignal in the linking block is kept.

[0098] Then, the waveform pattern in the hold signal is shown in FIG. 7.The hold signal has the waveform pattern such that the signal rises atthe timing t1 of the fall of the SYX detection signal so as to keep thehigh level until a predetermined hold time Ta elapses, so that, afterthe predetermined hold time Ta elapses, the signal falls at the timingof t2, wherein the hold time Ta is defined as the elapsing time from thet1 to that of t2. As shown in bottom of FIG. 7, the PLL signal keeps thehigh level for the hold time Ta.

[0099] Before the timing t1, the waveform of the PLL signal is changedaccording to the control states of the PLL 14. At the timing t2, the PLL14 is turned to an unlocked state, so that the PLL 14 executes newcapturing operations from the timing t2 to the timing t3 until which apredetermined time Tb elapses, whereby, after the timing t2, thewaveform of the PLL error signal is changed again according to thecontrol states of the PLL 14. Incidentally, because the frequency of thePLL 14 is suitably set while the PLL 14 executes the capturingoperations, the time Tb is a time required for matching phases of thePLL 14.

[0100] The data reading unit 16 reads data portions following from thesync frames distinguished according to the sync code detected by thesync detecting unit 13. The data reading unit 16 also subject the dataportion to various signal processings including error-correctionprocessing and so on, which are required for reading the data portion,so as to output the data portion as the reproducing data.

[0101] According to each waveform pattern shown in FIG. 7, in a casewhere the linking block of the disk is reproduced, it is necessary toset the last edge position of the linking block LB before the elapse ofthe capturing time Tb. First, the hold time Ta is set to a degree oftime permitting the distortion of the waveform in the at leastreproduction signal to be avoided. The capturing time Tb is determinedon the basis of the characteristics such as the frequency band of thePLL 14 and so on. The length of the linking block LB must be set bytaking into consideration of the hold time Ta and the capturing time Tb.Concretely, setting the length of the linking block LB to one sync frameusually causes the capturing time TB to be shortened so that thefrequency band of the PLL 14 is excessively wide. It is desired,therefore, to set the length of the linking block LB to two sync framesor more thereof. In cases where, however, the characteristic of the PLL14 is secured, it is possible to set the length of the linking block LBto one sync frame. In cases of setting the length of the linking blockLB over and above what is needed, the linking block LB bears on therecording capacity on the disk 2 so that it is desired to set thelinking block LB within three frames.

[0102] The configuration such that the length of the linking block isset within three frames permits the size in the disk 2 required for thelinking block to be decreased, thereby making use effectively therecording capacity on the disk 2.

[0103] In this embodiment, the PLL 14, as the clock sampling processing,stops the extracting of clock signal once when the reproductionprocessing is reached to the linking block LB, and after thepredetermined hold time Ta elapses, samples again the clock signal sothat it is possible to keep the PLL error signal to constant value forthe hold signal Ta. As a result, it is possible to forestall the badeffects with respect to the extraction of the clocks, such as a phaseslip of the PLL or the like, due to the distortion of the waveform ofthe reproduction signal at which the already recorded signal is switchedto the additional data, thereby controlling stably the frequency and thephase of the PLL to extract the clock signals.

[0104] A configuration of a modification of the first embodiment isexplained in cases of applying the above linking block LB to a DVD-ROMas the reproduction-only information recording medium. The object ofthis modification is to apply the present invention to the DVD-ROM so asto permit the compatibility between the above recordable/writableinformation recording medium such as the DVD-RW/the DVD-R and theDVD-ROM to be secured.

[0105]FIG. 8 is a view representing the data portion including thelinking block LB in accordance with the data arrangement which is thesame as that in FIG. 5 on the DVD-ROM as the disk 2.

[0106] In FIG. 8, in a different point as compared with FIG. 5, thelinking block LB is utilized as a sub code area on which sub codeplaying a special role is recorded. Incidentally, other points are thesame as those in FIG. 5. The data configuration shown from FIG. 2 toFIG. 4 is basically the same as that in FIG. 8, but the sub code isrecorded on the data portions of two sync frames SYF1 and SYF2 includedin the linking block LB in place of the dummy data.

[0107] The sub code area in the DVD-ROM is a redundant area because nodata essentially is recorded thereon, whereas, in this modification, itis possible to record on the sub code area various items of controlinformation required for the reproduction control. For example, it maybe possible to write an initial value of the scramble processing towhich the recorded data is subjected on the sub code area. That is, theinitial value of the scramble processing is obtained according to therecording position of the record data, but, in this modification, it ispossible to easily determine the initial value of the scrambleprocessing because the initial value is previously recorded as the subcode.

[0108] In cases of recording various items of control information on thesub code area as the sub code, the sub code area must be read whenreproducing the DVD-ROM, but, in this modification, it is possible todetect the sync code SYX or SYY added to the linking block LB on whichthe various items of control information are recorded so as to simplyread the various items of control information, thereby being identified.

[0109] An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the DVD-ROMrelated to the modification comprises an information reproducingapparatus including elements which are the same as the optical pickup 3,the reproduction signal production unit 11, the binary slicing unit 12,the PLL 14, the hold signal generating unit 15, the data reading unit16, the CPU 20 and the memory 21 so that the information reproducingapparatus can detect the linking block LB as described above.Incidentally, in cases where it is secured to continually extract properclock signals when reproducing the DVD-ROM, the hold signal detectingunit 15 may not be especially provided, but it is only necessary todetect the sync code SYX.

[0110] As described above, according to the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1, when recording the record data on thedisk 2 on which the items of address information are previously storedin consideration of the area including the ECC block and the linkingblock LB, the linking block LB with two sync frame length is inserted oneach boundary portion between each of the ECC blocks, and the sync codesSYX, SYY each having special patterns, respectively, are added to thelinking block LB. When reproducing the disk 2, the sync code SYX isdetected to distinct the position of the linking block so that the PLL14 is kept to a hold state during the linking block being reproduced,whereby the PLL executes new capturing operations during the dataportion following from the linking block being reproduced.

[0111] This configuration permits the linking block not to be formed ineach ECC block, preventing the error-correction performance from beingdeteriorated, and avoiding that the whole ECC block can not be used forrecording data. The use of the data portion as the linking block, whichis sufficiently shorter than the ECC block, permits a wasteful capacityin the recording capacity of the disk to be decreased.

[0112] As a result, it is possible to improve the reliability of therecord data without affecting the error-correction performance of eachblock. In addition, it is also possible to get rid of a wasteful area ineach block and to prevent the size of the linking block, thereby makinguse of the recording capacity of the information recording medium.

[0113] When reproducing the disk, detecting the sync code SYX causes theposition of the linking block to be securely identified, and the PLL 14to be suitably controlled according to the position of the linking blockso as to allow PLL 14 to stably extract clock signals, thereby improvingthe reliability of the reproduction signal.

[0114] It is also possible to secure the compatibility between the diskon which data can be recorded, such as the DVD-R, DVD-RW and so on, anda reproduction-only disk such as the DVD-ROM, thereby improving theusability of the disks.

[0115] Furthermore, in this embodiment, because the linking blocks areformed on all of the boundary portions to which all ECC blocks areadjacent, respectively, it is possible to configure the record data inregular data format, permitting to be simplified a detecting circuit fordetecting the linking block at the time of the disk being reproduced.

[0116] (Second Embodiment)

[0117]FIG. 9 is a view showing a state that a linking block is insertedon a boundary portion between an already recorded data and additionaldata on a DVD-RW/DVD-R as a disk according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. Incidentally, a functional block diagram of aninformation recording/reproducing apparatus 1A according to the secondembodiment is the same as that of the information recording/reproducingapparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, omitting the explanationof the functional block diagram of the information recording/reproducingapparatus 1A.

[0118] The linking block has an essential role, as explained in thefirst embodiment, for keeping additional data away from the alreadyrecorded data at a predetermined interval when recording the additionaldata on the recording disk 2, such as, DVD-RW/DVD-R or the like. In thisembodiment, however, the linking block is formed on thereproduction-only disk 2, such as DVD-ROM or the like so that therecording format of the reproduction-only disk 2 is made common to therecording disk 2.

[0119] Inserting operations of the linking block with respect to therecording disk 2, such as DVD-RW/DVD-R or the like, is explained atfirst.

[0120] That is, in this embodiment, the linking block inserting unit 6A,as shown by oblique lines in FIG. 9, inserts the linking block LB on anemboss area previously formed on the recording track of the recordingdisk 2 so that the linking block LB holds the emboss area, preventingdata on the linking block LB from being recorded.

[0121] The linking block inserting unit 6A adds a sync code SYXdifferent from the usual sync codes SX0˜SX7 to a first sync frame SYF1.

[0122] The added sync coded SYX has a code pattern which is differentfrom those of the usual sync codes SX0˜SX7 so that referring the synccode SYX permits the linking block LB to be distinguished from theactual data portion. On the emboss area, dummy data, as shown in FIG. 8,is recorded.

[0123] Next, FIG. 10 is a view representing a data configuration of thelinking block applied to the DVD-RW/DVD-R as the disk 2 according to thesecond embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the linking block is formed onthe boundary portion between the preceding ECC block (n−1) and thefollowing ECC block (n). The emboss area is formed on the intermediateportion of the linking block LB. Then, because the sync code SYX at thehead in the linking block LB is added when recording the data on theDVD-RW/DVD-R, the only emboss area exists in the linking block LB incases where no data is recorded on the DVD-RW/DVD-R.

[0124] In FIG. 10, the emboss area is arranged within a zone of 66 bytesin length in the linking block LB total of which is 186 bytes in lengthother than its head zone of 60 bytes in length and its last zone of 60bytes length therein.

[0125] Because, when the emboss area forming with a line of emboss pitsis excessively close to the recording areas adjacent to the linkingblock, the emboss area can cause recording films on the recording areasto be deteriorated, the emboss area is arranged away from the recordingareas at a predetermined distance, which are adjacent to the linkingblock LB so as to forestall the deterioration of the recording areasadjacent to the linking block.

[0126] The head in the linking block LB is blank in cases where no datais recorded on the DVD-RW/DVD-R, whereas, in cases where data isrecorded on the DVD-RW/DVD-R, the sync code SYX is added to the head inthe linking block . The sync code SYY which is added to the linkingblock on the DVD-ROM is not added to that on the DVD-RW/DVD-R becausethe sync code SYY is overlapped on the emboss area so as not to read thesync code SYY.

[0127] The shape of recording track in the linking block is shown in thebottom side in FIG. 10. The groove track as the recording track iswobbled so that, when recording data on the recording track, recordingmarks corresponding to the record data are formed on the groove trackexcept for the linking block.

[0128] The emboss area is formed with the emboss pit line includingemboss pits and lands arranged alternately. The pattern of the embosspit line is changed according to the dummy data. Data is prevented frombeing recorded on the emboss area, and even if the recording mark isillegally copied to be recorded on the emboss area, the interference ofthe emboss pit line to the recording mark makes impossible reproduce therecording mark. This operation is described hereinafter,

[0129] Next, linking block detecting operations by the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1A according to the second embodimentwhen reproducing the DVD-RW/DVD-R as the disk 2 are explained whilereferring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 11.

[0130]FIG. 11 is a view showing waveform patterns of signals outputtedfrom the units 11, 13, 14 and 15 of the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1A in a case where the linking block ofthe disk, such as DVD-RW/DVD-R is reproduced thereby.

[0131] That is, the light beam is irradiated from the optical pickup 3with respect to a target recording track on the disk 2 which isrotatably driven. A reflection light from the target recording track onthe disk 2 is detected by the detector in the optical pickup 3. Thedetected signal from the optical pickup 3 is inputted into thereproduction signal producing unit 11 so that a reproduction signalwhose levels are changed according to the pit on the target track andthe land thereon, at which the pit is not formed.

[0132] Then, in top of FIG. 11, the waveform pattern of the reproductionsignal is shown when the data portion including the linking block LB ofthe disk 2. FIG. 11 clearly represents that the reproduction signal hasdifferent levels within a range of level L1 to level L2 while the dataportion preceding the linking block LB is reproduced and the dataportion including the sync code SYX positioned at the head in thelinking block LB is reproduced.

[0133]FIG. 11 also clearly represents that the reproduction signal has aconstant level of L2 while unrecorded areas in the linking block exceptfor the emboss area are reproduced, and that the reproduction signal hasdifferent levels within a range of level L2 to level L3 while the embossarea is reproduced.

[0134] The shift of the range of the signal level is due to that thecharacteristic of the level of the reflection beam caused by thepresence or absence of the recording mark is changed in reverse ascompared with that of the level of the reflection beam caused by thepresence or absence of the emboss pit. The reproduction signal shown inFIG. 11 has different DC levels at the preceding and following areas tothe linking block, and the emboss area.

[0135] When recording the record data on the linking block LB on thedisk 2, the recording mark is recorded to be overlapped on the embosspit line in the emboss area on the groove track so that, whenreproducing the groove track on the disk 2, it is impossible toaccurately obtain a reproduction signal corresponding to the recordeddata on the linking block. On the contrary, when reproducing the dataportions preceding and following to the linking block, continuousreproduction must be secured so that, in this embodiment, theconfiguration described hereinafter permits to be secured thesynchronization of the reproduction of the preceding data portion to thelinking block with the reproduction of the following data portionthereto.

[0136] Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the binary slicing unit 12, similarlyto the first embodiment, slices the reproduction signal by apredetermined level so as to binarize it, thereby producing a binarysignal corresponding to the data pattern of the record data on the disk2. The sync detecting unit 13 detects distinguishably the usual syncpatterns SY0˜SY7 or the sync patterns SYX and the SYY included in thelinking block LB on the basis of the binary signal from the binaryslicing unit 12.

[0137] The PLL 14, similarly to the first embodiment, inputs the binarysignal therein so as to sample a clock synchronized with thereproduction signal.

[0138] The hold signal generating unit 15 generates a hold signal on thebasis of the SYX detecting signal outputted from the sync detecting unit13 so as to supply the hold signal to the PLL 14. The hold signal is asignal which is adapted to control a state of the PLL error signal, andto distinguish a predetermined time for which the level of the PLL errorsignal in the linking block is kept.

[0139] Then, the waveform pattern in the hold signal is shown in FIG.11. The hold signal has the waveform pattern such that the signal risesat the timing t1 of the fall of the SYX detection signal so as to keepthe high level until a predetermined hold time Ta elapses, so that,after the predetermined hold time Ta elapses, the signal falls at thetiming of t2, wherein the hold time Ta is defined as the elapsing timefrom the t1 to that of t2. As shown in bottom of FIG. 11, the PLL signalkeeps the high level for the hold time Ta.

[0140] The data reading unit 16 reads data portions following from thesync frames distinguished according to the sync code detected by thesync detecting unit 13. The data reading unit 16 also subject the dataportion to various signal processings including error-correctionprocessing and so on, which are required for reading the data portion,so as to output the data portion as the reproducing data.

[0141] According to each waveform pattern shown in FIG. 11 in a casewhere the linking block of the disk is reproduced, it is necessary toset the last edge position of the linking block LB before the elapse ofthe capturing time Tb. First, the hold time Ta is set to a degree oftime permitting the distortion of the waveform in the at leastreproduction signal to be avoided. The capturing time Tb is determinedon the basis of the characteristics such as the frequency band of thePLL 14 and so on. The length of the linking block LB must be set bytaking into consideration of the hold time Ta and the capturing time Tb.Concretely, setting the length of the linking block LB to one sync frameusually causes the capturing time TB to be shortened so that thefrequency band of the PLL 14 is excessively wide. It is desired,therefore, to set the length of the linking block LB to two sync framesor more thereof In cases where, however, the characteristic of the PLL14 is secured, it is possible to set the length of the linking block LBto one sync frame. In cases of setting the length of the linking blockLB over and above what is needed, the linking block LB bears on therecording capacity on the disk 2 so that it is desired to set thelinking block LB within three frames.

[0142] Next, operations of inserting the linking block on thereproduction-only disk 2 such as a DVD-ROM is explained according to thesecond embodiment.

[0143]FIG. 12 is a view showing a state that the linking block isinserted on the boundary portion between the already recorded data andadditional data on the DVD-ROM as the disk 2.

[0144] Incidentally, a functional block diagram of an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1B according to the modification is thesame as that of the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1according to the first embodiment, omitting the explanation of thefunctional block diagram of the information recording/reproducingapparatus 1B.

[0145] That is, the linking block inserting unit 6B, as shown in theoblique lines (hatchings), inserts a linking block LB on a region of twosync frames (first sync frame SYF1 and a second sync frame SYF2) betweenthe ECC block at the last of the already recorded data and that at thehead of new additional data.

[0146] Then, the data structure of the linking block LB applied to theDVD-ROM is explained in reference to FIG. 12˜FIG. 14.

[0147]FIG. 12 is a view representing the data structure of the linkingblock LB applied to the DVD-ROM. As shown in FIG. 12, the linking blockLB, shown in oblique lines, consisting of the two sync frames isinserted on the boundary portion between the ECC block (n−1) and the ECCblock (n).

[0148] Similarly to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a synccode SYX different from the usual sync codes SX0˜SX7 is added by thelinking block inserting unit 6B to the first sync frame SYF1 in theinserted linking block LB, and a sync code SYY different from the usualsync codes SX0˜SX7 is added thereby to the second sync frame SYF in theinserted linking block LB so that referring the sync codes SYX, SYYpermits the linking block LB to be distinguished from the actual dataportion.

[0149] In this structure, on data portions of two sync frames SYF1 andSYF2 included in the linking block LB, control information required forreproduction operations, as shown in FIG. 12, is recorded in place ofusual data.

[0150] In this configuration, the linking block LB is inserted on all ofthe boundary portions between all adjacent ECC blocks on the disk 2.According to this configuration, the linking block LB is always insertedbetween each of the already recorded data and each new additional datawhen recording each new additional data on the disk 2, and the linkingblock LB is within three sync frames in size, for example, a little twosync frames in size, as compared with the ECC block including 16×26 syncframes, making it possible to prevent a waste of the recording capacityof the disk 2, thereby making use efficiently of the recording capacitythereof.

[0151] The present invention, however, is not limited to the structureof inserting the linking block LB on all boundary portions. That is, thelinking block inserting unit 6B may insert the linking block LB on everyseveral boundary portions.

[0152]FIG. 13 is a view showing a concrete data configuration of thelinking block LB applied to the DVD-ROM as the disk 2. As shown in FIG.13, the linking block LB consisting of the two sync frames is insertedon the boundary portion between the ECC block (n−1) and the ECC block(n).

[0153] When reproducing the DVD-ROM, the data recording unit 7 stops thereproducing proceeding of the record data Al at the ECC block (n−1) atthe last end therein so as to shift to the linking block LB, therebyreading the control information from the linking block LB. When thereading position of the data recording unit 7 reaches to the last end ofthe linking block LB, the recording unit 7 starts to reproduce therecord data B1 from its ECC block (n) at the head end therein.

[0154] In the reproducing operations to the DVD-ROM, when detecting thesync code SYX in the linking block LB, the code pattern of sync code SYXis different from that of each of the sync codes SY0˜SY7 so that it ispossible to easily distinguish the position of the linking block LB.Incidentally, the sync code SYY may be detected in order to distinguishthe linking block LB, but, in this embodiment, the sync code SYX isdetected so as to distinguish the linking block LB.

[0155] Next, the control information recorded on the linking block LB onthe DVD-ROM is explained.

[0156] The linking block LB consists of two sync frames and each syncframe is 91 bytes in size so that the linking block LB allows a maximumof 182 bytes of the control information to be recorded thereon.

[0157]FIG. 14 (FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B) shows different examples offormats of control data recorded on the linking block on the DVD-ROMaccording to the modification of the second embodiment.

[0158] In the format shown in FIG. 14A, the control data comprisescontrol information of 145 bytes in length (in size), parity data of 32bytes in length, which corresponds to the control information andre-sync data of 5 bytes in length, which represents a last end of thelinking block LB. The control information includes, for example, atleast one of address of each ECC block, copy protect information, keyinformation (key data) needed to decode the scrambled data or the like.

[0159] Then, in this embodiment, because the linking block is formed onall of the boundary portions between the ECC blocks adjacent to eachother, it is possible to record the control information so as tocorrespond to each of the ECC blocks, permitting various kinds of copyprotection methods to be applied to each ECC block. As one example ofcopy protection methods, setting different items of copy information asthe control information, each of which corresponds to each of the ECCblocks, makes prevent the record data on a selected particular area frombeing copied. In addition, the items of control information are set tocorrespond to the respective ECC blocks so that copy protection methodsdetermined by the items of control information can be changed accordingto the recording areas to which the ECC blocks are recorded,respectively.

[0160] Setting different scramble keys to the ECC blocks, respectively,can make hard the decoding of the scrambled data in the ECC blocks,thereby improving the performance of the scramble processing and makingeffective prevention of illegal copies.

[0161] In the format shown in FIG. 14B, the control data comprisescontrol information of 55 bytes in length (in size) and parity data of32 bytes in length which are recorded on the areas each of that has 91bytes in size and that corresponds to each of the sink frames SYF1 andSYF2 of the linking block LB. The control data also comprises dummy dataand re-sync data each of which is recorded on a last location of each ofthe two sink frames SYF1 and SYF2. In the format shown in FIG. 14B, thecontent of control information is substantially the same as that ofcontrol information of the format shown in FIG. 14A. In addition, in theformat shown in FIG. 14B, repeatedly recording the same control data twotimes on the linking block LB allows the reliability of the control datato be improved.

[0162] An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the DVD-ROMrelated to the modification comprises an information reproducingapparatus including elements which are the same as the optical pickup 3,the reproduction signal production unit 11, the binary slicing unit 12,the PLL 14, the hold signal generating unit 15, the data reading unit16, the CPU 20 and the memory 21 so that the information reproducingapparatus can detect the linking block LB as described above.

[0163] However, in cases of reading the control data from the linkingblock LB, in order to reproduce the control data on the linking block LBwhen reproducing the DVD-ROM, the control data on the linking block isreproduced without using the hold signal from the hold signal generatingunit 15.

[0164] As described above, according to the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1A/1B of the second embodiment, formingthe linking block on the boundary portion between the adjacent ECCblocks on the recordable/re-recordable DVD-RW/DVD-R corresponding to theDVD format, or the reproduction-only DVD-ROM permits the compatibilityof their recording formats to be secured. In addition, the sync code SYXhaving a special pattern is added to the linking block.

[0165] This configuration allows the linking block not to be formed ineach ECC block, preventing the error-correction performance from beingdeteriorated, and avoiding that the whole ECC block can not be used forrecording data. The use of the data portion as the linking block, whichis sufficiently shorter than the ECC block, allows a wasteful capacityin the recording capacity of the disk to be decreased.

[0166] In addition, when reproducing the disk, detecting the sync codeSYX permits the position of the linking block to be securely identified.

[0167] Moreover, the emboss area consisting of the emboss pit line isformed on the linking block on the DVD-RW/DVD-R, and the control data isrecorded on the linking block of the DVD-ROM so that, when copying dataon the DVD-ROM to the DVD-RW/DVD-R, the position of the control data ofthe DVD-ROM is overlapped on the emboss area on the DVD-RW/DVD-R,whereby the interference of the emboss pit line to the recording markmakes hard reproduce the control data. For example, in cases where thecopy protection information or the key data corresponding to each ECCblock is recorded on the linking block on the DVD-ROM, it is impossibleto distinct the copy protection information or the key data on theDVD-RW/DVD-R, making increase the effect of the prevention of illegalcopy.

[0168] Incidentally, in these first and second embodiments, the presentinvention is applied to the information recording/reproducing apparatuscorresponding to the DVD-format, but the present invention is notlimited to the application.

[0169] That is, the present invention may be applied to an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus corresponding to recording/reproducingformat which allows the linking block to be formed on the disk.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

[0170] As described above, the present invention allows a linking blockwith a identification code to be inserted on a boundary portion betweenadjacent unit blocks on an information recording medium which permitsinformation to be recorded thereon or to be reproduced therefrom so thatit is possible to prevent error-correction performance from beingdeteriorated, thereby improving a reliability of recorded information,and to decrease a wasteful capacity in a recording capacity of theinformation recording medium, thereby making effectively use of therecording capacity thereof.

[0171] In addition, the present invention permits a linking block to bearranged on a boundary portion between adjacent unit blocks on aninformation recording medium so as to form, in a case where aninformation recordable/re-recordable medium is used as the informationrecording medium, an emboss area consisting of emboss pit line on thelinking block, or to form, in a case where a reproduction-onlyinformation recording medium is used as the information recordingmedium, control data on the linking block, making it possible todecrease a wasteful capacity in a recording capacity of the informationrecording medium and to effectively prevent an illegal copy.

[0172] While there has been described what is at present considered tobe the preferred embodiment and modifications of the present invention,it will be understood that various modifications which are not describedyet may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appendedclaims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scopeof the invention.

[0173] The entire disclosures of Japanese Patent Application No.2000-396207 filed on Dec. 26, 2000 and No. 2001-55586 filed on Feb. 28,2001 including the specification, claims, drawings and summary areincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

1. An information recording apparatus for recording information comprising: a first data processor for dividing input data into a plurality of frames so as to arrange the plurality of frames for each unit block, said unit block being a unit of error-correction with respect to the input data, said frames including first identification information, respectively; a second data processor for inserting a linking block on a boundary portion between at least one pair of unit blocks, at least one pair of said units blocks being adjacent to each other, said linking block including second identification information, said second identification information being different from each of said first identification information; and a controller for controlling to record the unit block and the linking block on the information recording medium.
 2. An information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second data processor inserts the linking block on each of the boundary portions between said unit blocks.
 3. An information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame is a sync frame, said first identification information is a first sync code, said unit block is an error control code (ECC) block whose format is divided into the sync frames which include the first sync frames, respectively, said second identification information is a second sync code and said linking block comprises at least one sync frame to which the second sync code is added, said second sync code being different from each of the first sync codes of the sync frames.
 4. An information recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said linking block is configured by three or less sync frames.
 5. An information recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said ECC block is configured by 16 sectors, and each of said sectors is configured by 26 sync frames to which the sync codes are added, respectively.
 6. An information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second data processor inserts the linking block on an emboss area in the boundary portion, said emboss area being previously formed on a recording track of the information recording medium, said emboss area being comprised of an emboss pit line.
 7. An information recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit for recording control information on the linking block inserted by the second data processor, said control information being required for the reproduction operation.
 8. An information recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control information is information required for the reproduction operation with respect to the unit block corresponding to the linking block.
 9. An information recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said information required for the reproduction operation includes at least one of copy protection information for protecting a copy of the unit block corresponding to the linking block and key information related to a scramble processing with respect to the unit block corresponding to the linking block, said framed input data in the unit block being scrambled according to the key information.
 10. A method of recording record data on an information recording apparatus comprising the step of: dividing input data into a plurality of frames so as to arrange the plurality of frames for each unit block, said unit block being a unit of error-correction with respect to the input data, said frames including first identification information, respectively; inserting a linking block on a boundary portion between at least one pair of unit blocks, at least one pair of said units blocks being adjacent to each other, said linking block including second identification information, said second identification information being different from each of said first identification information; and controlling to record the unit block and the linking block on the information recording medium.
 11. A method of recording record data according to claim 10, wherein said inserting step inserts the linking block on each of the boundary portions between said unit blocks.
 12. A method of recording record data according to claim 10, wherein said frame is a sync frame, said first identification information is a first sync code, said unit block is an error control code (ECC) block whose format is divided into the sync frames which include the first sync frames, respectively, said second identification information is a second sync code and said linking block comprises at least one sync frame to which the second sync code is added, said second sync code being different from each of the first sync codes of the sync frames.
 13. A method of recording record data according to claim 12, wherein said linking block is configured by three or less sync frames.
 14. A method of recording record data according to claim 12, wherein said ECC block is configured by 16 sectors, and each of said sectors is configured by 26 sync frames to which the sync codes are added, respectively.
 15. A method of recording record data according to claim 10, wherein said inserting step inserts the linking block on an emboss area in the boundary portion, said emboss area being previously formed on a recording track of the information recording medium, said emboss area being comprised of an emboss pit line.
 16. A method of recording record data according to claim 10, further comprising recording control information on the linking block inserted by the inserting step, said control information being required for the reproduction operation.
 17. An information recording medium on which record data is previously recorded, comprising: a recording area on which a plurality of frames are arranged for each unit block, said record data being divided into the plurality of frames to which first identification information is added, respectively, said unit block being a unit of error-correction with respect to the record data; and a linking block inserted on a boundary portion between at least one pair of unit blocks in the record data, at least one pair of said units blocks being adjacent to each other, said linking block including second identification information, said second identification information being different from each of said first identification information.
 18. An information recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said linking block is inserted on each of the boundary portions between said unit blocks.
 19. An information recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said frame is a sync frame, said item of first identification information is a first sync code, said unit block is an error control code (ECC) block whose format is divided into the sync frames which include the first sync frames, respectively, said second identification information is a second sync code and said linking block comprises at least one sync frame to which the second sync code is added, said second sync code being different from each of the first sync codes of the sync frames.
 20. An information recording medium according to claim 19, wherein said linking block is configured by three or less sync frames.
 21. An information recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said ECC block is configured by 16 sectors, and each of said sectors is configured by 26 sync frames to which the sync codes are added, respectively.
 22. An information recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said linking block includes control information required for reproduction control.
 23. An information recording medium according to claim 17, further comprising an emboss area which is composed of a line of emboss pits and is formed on a recording track of the information recording medium, said recording track corresponding to the linking block.
 24. An information recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said emboss area is arranged within a predetermined range in the linking block at a predetermined interval with respect to recording areas adjacent to the linking block on the recording track.
 25. An information recording medium according to claim 17, wherein control information is recorded on said linking block, said control information being required for a reproduction operation of the record data from the information recording medium.
 26. An information recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said control information is information required for a reproduction operation with respect to the unit block corresponding to the linking block.
 27. An information recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said information required for the reproduction operation includes at least one of copy protection information for protecting a copy of the unit block corresponding to the linking block and key information related to a scramble processing with respect to the unit block corresponding to the linking block, said framed record data in the unit block being scrambled according to the key information.
 28. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing record data which is recorded on the information recording medium according to claim 17, comprising: a first data processor for reproducing, as reproduction data, the record data recorded on the image recording medium; and a second data processor for detecting the second identification information from the reproduction data, thereby identifying a position of the linking block.
 29. A information reproducing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said second data processor includes a sampling unit for sampling a clock signal synchronized with the reproduction data while reproducing the reproduction data, controls the sampling unit to stop the sampling of clock signal during a predetermined period that the linking block is reproduced, and after the predetermined period elapses, controls the sampling unit to start the sampling of clock signal again.
 30. An information reproducing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said sampling signal includes a pulse locked loop (PLL) unit whose phase and frequency are controlled in conjunction with the reproduction data, makes the PLL unit hold state during a predetermined period that the linking block is reproduced, and after the predetermined period elapses, controls the PLL unit to start capturing operation.
 31. An information recording medium for recording thereon record data, in which the record data comprises a plurality of unit blocks and a plurality of linking information, said unit block being a unit of error-correction with respect to the record data, each of said linking information connecting each pair of unit blocks adjacent to each other, said information recording medium comprising: first areas previously storing thereon recording position information representing recording positions on the information recording medium, respectively; and second areas each of which is N times as wide as each of the first recording areas, said N being a natural number, wherein each of said recording position information represents that each of said unit blocks and each of said linking information corresponding thereto ought to be recorded on each of said second areas.
 32. A method of preventing an illegal copy in accordance with a recording format for recording record data for each unit block, said unit block being a unit of error-collection with respect to the record data, said method of comprising: forming a linking block on a boundary portion between at least one pair of the unit blocks according to the recording format, at least one pair of said units blocks being adjacent to each other; arranging an emboss area on a recording track on an information recording medium, said emboss area being composed of an emboss pit line, said emboss area being overlapped on the emboss area, thereby preventing recording in the emboss area; and recording control information on the linking block on a reproduction-only information recording medium, said reproduction-only information recording medium corresponding to the recording format, said control information being required for reproduction operation.
 33. A method of preventing an illegal copy according to claim 32, wherein said control information includes copy protection information related to the unit block.
 34. A method of preventing an illegal copy according to claim 32, wherein said control information includes key data related to a scramble processing with respect to the unit block, said record data in the unit block being scrambled according to the key data. 